Manufacture of gunpowder.



PATENTED DEG. 17, 1307.

0. W. VOLNEYY. MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 22,1906.

5 n. Hump-Hun nu M. T l I J a wi W Carl W By his Attorney,-

Witnesses PATENT OFFICE.

CARL WALTER VOLNEY, OF KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY.

manor-Across or GUNI'OWDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Deg; 17,1907.-

Application fil ed mesa 1906. Serial No. 322,309.

To all whom it may concern; I o

Be it known that I, CARL WALTER VOLNEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Keyport, in the county ofMonmouth and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Manufacture of Gunpowder, of which; the followingisa specification.

My invention relates to that class of gunowder which has, as aconstituent, celluose nitratesjin a colloid state. In its manufacturethe cellulose nitrates are commingled with certain volatile liquids,such as mixtures of ethyl alcohol and ether, alkyl 3'5 towards theinterior of the masses, and if acetates, acetone and kindredsocalled-solvents, combining therewith and forming a colloid mass which issubsequently pressed, into suitable shapes, such as sheets, cubes,

c lindersand prisms; these pressed masses t en undergo a finishingprocess which has for its purpose the induration or'hardenin withoutdisintegration of these masses an theremoval of the so-called solventstherefrom.

It has been found in practice that the removal of volatile matter fromthe pressed masses of theabove described gunpowder is ,di flicult andtedious.

Under the present practice of finishing such gunpowder, the removal ofso-called solvents by drying and the indurating of the pressed massesbegins on their surface, which becomes incrusted with a horn likecovering; the further removal of solvents and the indurating of thepressed bodies progresses .from the surface these masses are of largedimensions, an uncertain and nearly undeterminable length of time isnecessary for a complete finishing of the process. Onthen-other; hand,the com-' plete finishing of the process; that is, the entire removal ofall volatile, extraneous matter and perfect and homogeneous indurationof the pressed powder masses is. absolutely necessary, for thereon deend. the

uniformit and last'ingstability o the ballistic qua ities of the.hereinbefore describe d class of gunpowder.

It is well known that small quantities of volatile'matter, such asalcohol, ether, alkyl acetates and acetone, retained in the pressedvpowder masses under the indicated circumstances, change the ballisticqualities; it is, however, not equally well'known but 0 n to proof, thatthe presence of these so-cail d solvents and the subsequent incompletetion and retention of atmospheric moisture,

whereby the colloid nature of the cellulose nitrates is chan ed into abrittle, disintegrating mass whic does: not indurate in the manner ofthe usual colloid, and is extremely liable to change the powder into adetonating explosive on fiiiiiig fired in the usual manner. At thesametime the application of heat, which overcomes the indicateddrawbacks, can, under the present practice of treating this class ofnpowder, be of limited use only, as there y the surfacesof the massesmerely are exposed to the effects of heat, tending to dangerousoverheating before penetrating deeper into' the mass;

the extreme effective application of heat is prohibited by the expmaterial.

It is the purpose of m invention to overcome the herein cited di culties.and to produce gunpowder free from extraneous and unstable matter, suchas "the solvents men- .tioned, .and of the uniform homogeneousinduration desired. To that end I do not follow the present practiceinthe use of drying osive nature of the rooms, vacuum drying chambers andum rents of heated or y present used means the, su aces of the air, as ball these at masses only are heated, the volatile matter removed fromthe surfaces only and the pressed masses indurated on the surfaces,merely,'leaving the interior to a long continued and-uncertain dryingout, of dangerous proclivity. For this purpose I use any suitable gas,preferably atmospheric air of a desired temperature; by varying thepressures in the interior of the owder masses and the outside gas orair, preerably slightly warmed, the gas is forced to enter the massesthrough interstices, and ca ill'ary fissures, also by an osmotic action;t ereby producing ultimately a uniform temperature throughout thesemasses. The vapor tension of'the volatilizi matter in the interior is.increased and its 'fi'usion with the surroundin air for gas facilitated;andb these means the combination of the volati e matter, especially thatof ethyl alcohol with the cellulose nitrates, ceases and the desireduniform induration of. the powder mass-is completed. Upon decreasing thepressure o fthe air surroundi the powder grains, the air forced into theinterior of the masses is withdrawn therefrom with its vdifiiusedvolatilized matter; and in such manner the powder is After leavin in theusual manner in t -p an ofv withdrawing um of 70 or 80 millimeters belowatmospheric pressure, and receivethe gunpowder to be treated; an an pumpfor roduci partialr vacuum of about 70 mil lmeters elow normal, isconnected with the vacuum chamber. After placingl the pressed powder evacuum chamber, as for instance on shelves, the artial vacuum isproduced, and then the e amber filled with air or gas of preferablyabout 35 0. temperature and normal atmospheric pressure, whereby thepressure in the powderchamber rises to t at of the atmosphere. thewarm-air in contact with the powder or the space of about one hour, thechamber is again connected with the air "pump, and again a reduction inpressure of 70 .millimeters produced therein, and the connection withthe air reservolr again 0 ened and air at 35 C. admitted. This andadmitting air at comparatively long lntervals is repeated, untiltest'shows the withdrawn air to, be free from volatile matter, whichindicates the finishin of the-process- A 7 The eating of the air may beefiected in any desired manner, as, for instance, by steam radiatingapparatus, the hot air collected in the reservoir and by admission ofcool air brought to a temperature of about 35 C. the air reservoir isconnected by one or more pi es with the vacuum chamber, which can t usbe placed in a conveniently isolated situation. As the temperature inthe air reservoir can be automatlcally regulated to 35 0., overheatingof the gunpowder is avoided, and as it is the only source of heat in thevacuum chamber the described operations insure the desired safety.

In the drawing is illustrated an apparatus srulitable for carrying outthe present process. e

owder or other materlal to be dried may e placed on shelves 0 in aclosed reservoir A; which reservoir is provided with a thermometer t anda pressure gage P. Any

suitable pump M is connected by a pi e m with the vessel A, the pi ehaving a va ve 'v. The air or other gas is a mitted to the reservoir Afrom a closed reservoir B through a pipe I) provided with a valve ac.The reservoir B is shown provided with an inlet pipe C provided with avalve w. Suitable means are provided for heating the air in thisreservoir B, coil pipes S being shown as arranged in the reservoir thatmay be supplied with steam or other suitable heating medium to warm theair in this reservoir, the temperature of which is indicated by athermometer T Iprojecting from the top. The powder or ot er material isplaced on the shelves, and the two valves 0 and a: are opened and theump started, that will draw out the air om the reservoir A and draw inthe heated air from the reservoir B, that is preferably heated to a temerature-of about 35 CI Thereu on the va ve a will be closed and thereservoir A will be exhausted, preferably to reduce its pressure aboutm. m. Thereu on'the valve '0 is closed and the owder a owed to remain inthe reservoir for a considerable length of time, preferably about longercontain volatile matter, I when the powder will be thoroughly dry.

By the described treatment of the herein indicated class of gunpowder,having for a constituted part or being wholly composed of cellulosenitrates in a colloid state, the powder isrendered free from anyvolatile matter; the drying and induratmg takes place homogeneouslythroughout the ressed powder masses; and thereafter absor ed atmosphericmoisture has no effect on the powder thus treated to change itsballisticproperties.

By the'methods heretofore in use comparatively long periods of time wererequired to dry the owder, involving weeks and months. ereas by myprocess less than the time of twenty-four hours is necessar to effect apractically perfect drying an removal of the solvents, while with theold length processes the interior was not treate and the remainingsolvent portion in the masses, of uncertain and varying uantities,resulted in changing the composition, and hence the ballistic propertiesof the powder, so that a powder tested and stated to be of a certainexplosive character would after a period of time vary suchproperty andbecome detonating, with disastrous results. After being treated by myprocess the ascertained firing qualities of a owder remain constant andunchangeable or any period of time.

By the term air as employed 1n the claims it is to be understood thatany kind of absorptive atmosphere; that is, any gas, simple or compound,or an admixture of gases, can be used, that will not have a deleteriousaction on the cellulose nitrates, or similar materials constituting theowder masses, during the time required or the process. The atmosphericair for economic reasonsis found very desirable. But any other gas couldbe substituted that would not jure the powder.

While it has been found desirable to make the intervals of thealternations of pressure about one hour, this can be lengthened orshortened within considerable limits. But the intervals should be of comaratively long duration, that is, they shou d not be rapid fluctuations,such as might be caused by a continuously acting pump or valve mechanismconnected therewith.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In the art of finishing owder containing cellulose nitrates with acohol and-ether as solvents, the process of removing the alcohol andether, consisting in subjecting the powder in a closed vessel to airheated to about 35 (3. at normal pressure, and alternately subjectingthe powder in the closed alcohol and ether, consisting in subjecting thepowder in a closed vessel to air heated to about 35 C. atnormalpressure, and. alternately subjecting the powder in the closedvessel to air heated to about 35 C. with the pressure reduced about 70m. 111., said steps eing each continued for about the period of onehour.

Signed at Nos. 9 to 15 Murray street, New York, N. Y., this 21st day ofJune, 1906.

CARL WALTER VOLN E Y Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. REID, JOHN O. SEIFER'I.

